Seminole State College of Florida is a full-service education provider, offering five
Seminole State College of Florida is a full-service education provider, offering five bachelor’s degrees; two-year college-credit degrees (A.A., A.S., A.A.S.); specialized career certificates; continuing professional education; adult education; and an array of culturally stimulating events and timely guest speakers.
Meet student Mai Bui!
Everyone is watching the Asians over in the U.S. Asians need to be heard and we are their voice to influence them and give the tools to excel at what they really want to do.
ASIANCE: What University are you attending?
Mai: Seminole State College of Florida
ASIANCE: Why did you choose the school where you are currently studying?
Mai: At the time it was a community college and I chose it because of the small class size.
ASIANCE: What is your major?
Mai: Marketing
ASIANCE: What will you be doing after you graduate?
Mai: I want to start my own business, move to Los Angeles and make a big impact on the Asian-American community in the entertainment and lifestyle business.
ASIANCE: What clubs or extracurricular activities do you enjoy? If Asian specific, why did you choose to join?
Mai: I’m in student government at my school and I’m the diversity chair (originally I was signed up for the marketing chair), but as diversity chair, I can start impacting Asians around the school.
ASIANCE: What is the hardest part about being a student?
Mai: The hardest part of being a student is keeping up classes and having fun. Some professors are so serious about their work and they want to be sure that you get your information right and sometimes having fun with your friends is often sacrificed because of the perfection that the professors demand.
ASIANCE: What are you looking forward to the most about graduating?
Mai: When I graduate, I aspire to be a Marketing Director for a major Asian-American company out in Los Angeles. If you can make in Los Angeles for the Asian-American community, you can make it anywhere.
ASIANCE: What will you miss about not attending school?
Mai: What I’ll miss about not attending school is how they prepare you for everything. No one is ever ready for the real world, and I’m sort of scared of the real world. But I need that push that the school and clubs are going to provide me.
ASIANCE: Was there another school you wanted to attend?
Mai: Originally, I wanted to attend UCLA or UC Berkeley because I wanted to get away from Florida and start making an impact on Asians right away. But when I realize I had no experience or the money, I had to stay in Florida to find other ways to impact Asians in the Orlando area and gain experience.
ASIANCE: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Mai: Five years from now I can see myself coordinating events and marketing with a major Asian American company out in Los Angeles.
ASIANCE: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Mai: Ten years from now I can see myself being a Marketing Director because I earned my way up there. I want American girls in general to go after their dreams and know that it is possible to follow your dreams and enjoy what you’re doing. You have to be patient and let things come to you.
ASIANCE: Any significant accomplishments you would like to add during your time in college?
Mai: I would love to start a business or start planning for it and I would love to create a face for the new generation of Asian Americans today.
ASIANCE: Looking back would you do anything differently?
Mai: As cliché as it sounds, no, because if I didn’t have struggles and make mistakes the rewards of being featured in Asiance Magazine and working towards being a Vietnamese activist wouldn’t be so sweet. I love being the best at what I do and if you can’t be humble or have the struggles, no one can relate to you or nothing good will come to you. Always stay humble and always give respect even when it’s not given, because without those two things, no one would want to be around you.
ASIANCE: Was there anything hard about being Asian at your school?
Mai: The hardest part of being Asian at my school is creating a face for the new generation of Asian Americans. We act, talk and walk like an American, and yet we still don’t have a voice that fits our generation. We’re a different type of breed all over. Yes, we still have the Jackie Chan and Jet Li from Asia, but everyone is watching the Asians over in the U.S. Asians need to be heard and we are their voice to influence them and give the tools to excel at what they really want to do.
ASIANCE: What advice would you give to girls who are looking at colleges right now?
Mai: The advice I want to give to the girls looking at colleges right now is: there’s always going to be speed bumps. People are going to try to tear you down and people are going to criticize you, but you have to remember, when you’re looking into a major and you want to do something. Go for it. Follow your dreams, no matter what people say, because at the end of the day, you’re the one that needs to be happy and healthy. Also, don’t let one mistake or failure stop you from reaching the moon. Look at mistakes and failures as stepping stones for tomorrow. And never forget to be humble and respect others around you, because you never know what people can offer you in the long run.